New Essendon president David Barham has vowed to be “bold, decisive and courageous” in resetting the Bombers, declaring they will be a force again.
In a week where they were plunged into chaos after Barham ousted Paul Brasher for the top job, and then launched a failed bid for coaching great Alastair Clarkson, Barham said he was prepared to do what it took to ensure the club avoided having a generation of players and supporters who had never tasted finals success.
Speaking at his president’s club function before Saturday night’s clash against Richmond at the MCG, Barham was greeted warmly when he took to the stage, insisting the time for change had arrived.
Essendon president David Barham says he will be bold and courageous in the hope of restoring the Bombers as a power.Credit:Getty Images
“We must reset and rebuild for both success on the field and off the field. We are bordering on an entire young group of players not knowing what success is, along with an entire group of young fans,” Barham told the club faithful and wealthy backers, in a pointed remark to the Bombers having failed to win a final since 2004 and a premiership since 2000.
“For me, this is urgent. It requires us to be bold, decisive and courageous. My first week as president hasn’t been without its challenges and I acknowledge that. I have copped my fair share of criticism and that’s fine. Some I deserved, some I didn’t but the buck stops with me.
“But what I will never shy away from is doing everything I can to bring the very best people to our club, to give our club the best chance possible to achieve sustained success.”
Brasher, who shook hands with Barham after receiving a departing gift, and fellow board members Kevin Sheedy and Simon Madden were among those in attendance.
Ben Rutten may have coached his last game for Essendon on Saturday night.Credit:AFL Photos
“As a president, I will lead a board and club that will be courageous and relentless in the pursuit of success. We will be a force in AFL football again, and I will ask all Bombers’ fans, players and administrators to join with the board and get going again,” Barham said.
The future of coach Ben Rutten is a pressing issue, and will be the subject of debate at a board meeting on Sunday.
Rutten has a year remaining on his contract but the failed play for Clarkson has industry figures believing his position is untenable.
This year has been a disaster for the Bombers, finishing in the bottom third of the ladder, having made the finals last year in Rutten’s first year as coach.
The manner in which the Bombers treated Rutten over the past week has been unedifying, with Barham admitting it was “ugly” and even apologising for not notifying Rutten last Monday that the club was hunting Clarkson.
Should the Bombers and Rutten part ways, there is speculation club great and former coach James Hird, who left during the 2015 season amid the supplements saga, and former Fremantle and St Kilda coach Ross Lyon will be among those sought out.
The Bombers will also launch an external club review, with all areas of the club to be analysed, as part of transformational change. Barham, who says he is an agent for change, has said he even needs to examine how he and chief executive Xavier Campbell can get along. Tim Watson, the club great and a prominent commentator, has questioned whether Campbell can survive.
Campbell also took to the stage on Saturday, reiterating that he had been in the role for almost nine years.
“Football clubs are funny places, disproportionately high profile. There is the good, there is the bad, there is the challenging but, by and large, it all comes from the same spot, everyone being aligned to strive to be the best thing. It’s never as good, never as bad, that’s all I would like to say,” he said.
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